Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: Where do you stand on banning guns? [View all]tortoise1956
(671 posts)as it was used in the 18th century.
The term meant to fine tune something, to hone it. For example, pianos were regulated, and an in-tune piano was referred to as "well-regulated". That was the most common usage of the term as late as the beginning of the 20th century, and is still in use by piano tuners. This information is available on the internet - try the following sites:
http://constitution.org/cons/wellregu.htm
http://www.vanderpiano.com/regulate.html
Or do your own research. An unbiased check will uncover exactly what I have stated. Hell, I didn't even add quotes from the framers of the constitution to demonstrate how it was used to describe a well-trained army.
Now, you can choose not to believe the Oxford English dictionary if you so desire. That still doesn't change the fact that no matter what, the preamble is a prefatory clause meant to describe the reason for, and the intent of, the amendment. It doesn't limit the main body of the amendment, unless you are willing to argue that this is the only place in the constitution where the term "the people" doesn't apply to the entire population...